TRASH
MAKE WAY
Danny Way's next big stunt is reportedly being
planned under tight security. Numerous curious fellows
are maneuvering in an attempt to get the inside low-
down. Meanwhile, assorted photographic functionar-
ies around Balm Valley have vowed that there will be
"no future scams by low-lifes." In the land of staff
Range Rovers, TWSnow security is reportedly so
uptight that corporate higher-ups are alleged to have
dismissed several staff members over purported
improprieties discovered in "random computer
television skate contest venue that was situated to the
right of the Psycho house and to the left of the audio
animatronic Bruce, the Jaws shark model. Forget sport,
this was popular entertainment at its finest. (And not a
bad payday for Bob Burnquist, Tony Hawk and Rune
Glifberg as well.) The civil disturbance that drew out the
brownshirts was "caused" when a security guard at the
Universal City contest site took exception to Chad
Muska's aggressive expansion of a kickflip over a fence
and into the crowd. Unfortunately, the incomprehension
of the guard escalated into a shoving match which
involved Mike Vallely and others. When it was all over,
POSER OF THE MONTH
KRIMINAL: Travis "Over the Back" Lieker
<RIME: Double Thumbellina 5-0, 5-0
SENTEN<*: Sack-stretching splinter session
checks." Were these unfortunate employees innocent
and actually set up by unknown agents of mayhem
who spiked their computers with the bogusly incrimi-
nating programs? The widespread hacking of industry
computer systems remains a hot topic amongst those
who worry about such things. Take the case of a mid-
California manu who discovered a rival wheel manu-
facturer "sneaking about"
his urethane formulation
room. How did the
the interlop-
er manage to get past our
vigilant hero's a
inter's aerospace-
inspired, computer-linked
video surveillance and
alarm system? This said
guardian of
dian of corporate
secrets is reportedly fond of
administrating lie detector
tests to
his
s own employees
in the hopes of locating
"leaks to competitors."
The Los Angeles County
Sheriff's riot squad was on
tactical alert when they
stormed into the made-for-
the sheriffs asked if the
skaters wanted to press
charges. Other cases of a
severe communication
breakdown were also
observable. Paul
Schmitt was amongst
nearly 1,500 skaters who
were denied access for a
couple of hours after the
Fire Marshall shut entry
down due to over-crowd-
ing. Eventually, the
event's organizers
became aware of the situ-
ation, and it was
resolved.
SOULS SOLD
Pornographic pioneer
Larry Flynt, the father of
full beaver panoramics,
just put in a $1.8 million
bid to buy the bankrupt El
Dorado casino in
Gardena, California. The
call is for Club Hustler
and, according to Flynt
Empire intimates, the Big
Brother Lounge can't be
far behind. Will this be a
mere child diversionary,
super interactive comput-
er game drome or will it feature a full array of boardsport
betting? Graphic design editorial type Sean Cliver has
been out of the Flynt publishing tower in the afternoons
recently and in the Gardena vicinity where he is "working
on design stuff."
The burgeoning paranoia by some that the skate indus-
try is being besieged by non-skate interlopers was no
KOOL BAND ALERT
doubt further
fueled by the pres-
ence of so many
Beverton, Oregon-
based shoe com-
pany laborers at
Hollywood's
Universal City
Walk contest. A
crew of advert and
promotional men
huddled together in
Gladstone's fish
emporium as they
cackled with plea-
sure regarding the
controversy started
over the rumor of
Tony Hawk's sup-
Not Hanson or the Misfits, coming soon to a fair-
posed signing with
ground near you, Joaquina. Recognize anyone?
Nike. For the record, Hawk categorically claims "there
is no contract with them, and I never talked over any
money deals with them." The choice of Gladstone's as
a meeting site is ironic because it is the domain of Bob
Morris, a longtime Point Dume surfer and confidant
of many of the skate industry's headest honchos.
Doesn't Morris lunch often with such members of the
intelligentsia as David Y Rochlen? Another food
service crony/skate legend, John "Speedo" Creed is
now hooked up with the Santa Monica Pier ramp
Mafia of the Barham clan directing the national Hot
Dog On A Stick franchise. In a past corporate incarnation,
Creed was a notable booster of the "fun in the sun" sports
vibe. Are these aware crossover business types the poten-
tial core of another level of contest sponsorship?
GHOST RIDER
Which corporately payrolled filmmaker is being active-
ly courted by Shorty's?
Which truck company president is quietly planning his
retirement in North Carolina? Will he join Reggie
Barnes and Dennis Hopper in the comfortably plush
surf/golf course homes at millionaire's row?
Which wheel corp is actively attempting to sign up rid-
ers, while their top rider is quietly telling all of the same
guys not join and why?
Will TransWorld exec Brian Sellstrom be the
"industry expert" witness called in by a San Diego uni-
versity defending itself against a wrongful death law-
suit filed by a deceased skater's family? Are not several
other organizational and publication types being sought
by the defense as well? Is Sellstrom's exalted status at
Times Mirror, Inc the reason why lawyers are so hot to
sign him up?
Are Kryptonics rollerblade wheels being offered for
sale at the price of $1.05 per unit? Does this signal the
long forecast demise of the in-line tragedy?
Is the street person who wanders the avenues of the
South Bay wearing a Bitch team shirt serious when he
claims to be company owner Sal Rocco, Jr?
Which pro skater will ad agency execs draft for a
planned American Express credit cards TV spot?
Apparently, the smart money has deemed that a clone of
their current snow spot is desirable.
What NYC "pro" recently threatened to burn down
NY's first public skatepark because they insisted he wear
a helmet? Sounds like the "King Of New York."
What East Coast company owner was kicked out of the
ASR "for life" for the crime of skating the vert ramp?
Wasn't it ironic that both pro vert riders for his compa-
POSTCARD
FROM THE EDGE
Found in the South Seas Island Archipelago
of Uuaga-Waayga, this one hit spine awaits
all bargers. Reportedly, Dan Drehobl and
Bam Margera are both on their way.
BOOTY <ALL
Narda Quigley of Philadelphia, PA, sent this
picture of her friend "Sarah" giving up the pur-
ple moon after a bailed backside boardslide.
ny were doing demos there? What bitch
(ASR) called AC police to have him physical-
ly escorted out?
KEEP DIGGING
What has a memory better than an old ele-
phant? Perhaps the mental recall ability of
some old slalom riders surpass that of the
pachyderm. Beau Brown and Jim Gray are
reissuing the G&S Fiberflex. No word yet as
to whether this 1997.
Acme version will.
resemble the previous
1965, the 1975, or the
1985 styles of Fiberflex
construction.
Has James
Fitzpatrick, via his
successful campaign to
promote the passage of
Cali bill AB1296,
become a sought after
politico? It seems that
the 50,000 plus letters
generated for his IASC
campaign have made
Mr Fitz very popular
indeed. Reportedly,
even the International
In-Line
Skate
Association is after his
employment contract.
So now that
Governor Pete
Wilson has passed the
notorious skate bill,
what does all of this
mean? The act of skate-
designing the latest in global
skate concourses there. Mike
Carroll was on the list to go, but
backed out at the last minute due
to some company duty with Rick
Howard at Girl HQ.
Giant is back laboring in the
graphics vineyard and turning
out Huffer. Last seen up on the
wall at 6th & Howard with that
other Think alum Dug One, the
new quiet Giant seems to be
more user-friendly. Also seen on
the Huffer tip is Jason Noto.
VAN DRUFF
Salman Agah, Ray Barbee,
Tim Brauch, and Richard
Kirby are part of the loosely
structured group that did the
two-month long "non-tour" of the
US. Estes and Vans weren't the
sponsors. Downscale non-events like these
could be the future, but of course then they
would have to happen. Beetle Rosecrans,
the Van Doren team leader, was so into this
non-event that he reportedly had the presti-
gious Newport Beach advertising agency of
McElroy and Sons negotiating to hire Stacey
Peralta to film the non-tour. Peralta's inclu-
sion was particularly apropos as he was a for-
mer Vans poster boy
and the instigator of the
signature model skate
shoe. Another potential
non-topic is the rumor
that Vans is considering
bringing out a Tony
Lava retiree shoe.
GUEST LIST
HAIR DON'T
SF's Bottom Of The
Hill was the socializing
hotspot the weekend
before Halloween as
friends and supporters
came together and
raised over $3,500 to
help pay for Ruben
Orkin's medical
expenses. Ruben was
recently diagnosed
with lung cancer.
Thanks to One Man
Army, the Dwarves,
the US Bombs, Jim
and Lynn Thiebaud,
Alan Petersen, Bob.
Burnquist, Max
Schaaf, Joey
Tershay, Julien Stranger, Chris Cook,
Team Pierre, Chris Pastras, Dan Drehobl,
Jeff Klindt, Fausto Vitello, Tony
Vitello, Luke Ogden, Mic-E Reyes, Don
Fisher, Keith Cochrane, Danny Sargent,
Mike Archimedes, and everyone else who
came to lend their support. Our best wishes
go out to Ruben and his family, for we all are
in this together.
One of the coming of age rituals
for young people is to try on dif-
ferent looks-mod, prep or punk.
Here's one that didn't work for
Jeff Grosso, circa 1988.
boarding on the streets is still banned in most
places and the cops in Cali seem confused.
Another question is, who will compile the
injury statistics, track the records of park trau-
mas, and otherwise manage the mountain of
information that must be generated according
to the law? And who will monitor the legisla-
tors and law enforcement agents to assure
that the law is being properly administered?
MAD DOGS
Spike Jonze and Sophia Coppola are
said to be appearing in the latest installment
of Star Wars, while Mark Gonzales and
Lauren Curry are said to be new residents
of San Francisco and are reported to be living
in Bryce Kanight's old house.
Jay Adams is back in Venice and his
presence has seemingly triggered feverish
attempts to revive the old Jeff
Ho/Zephyr brands.
Dan Drehobl, Jovontae Turner, Greg
Carroll, and Kevin Thatcher have just
returned from Guam where they sessioned
with 150 islanders. KT is rumored to be
LAST LINE
"What could be better promo than punching
out your own distributor at every contest?"
-Lance Mountain
"It's not an East Coast thing. It's not a West
Coast thing. We're not a Giant. And we're not
a midget, either." -Rodney Smith
"There ain't nothin' more real than a real
man, and there ain't no one more real than
me." -Mic-E Reyes
"Nike's laughing about tossing out a little
chump change and freaking out the entire
industry."-Steve Sherman
"I just point and shoot, isn't that real love?"
-Kevin Ancell
REST IN
PEAKE
CHRIS ROBISON
1967-1997
On October 17, 1997, the
skateboard world lost a
comrade in arms by the
name of Chris Robison. A
tragic accident cut short
his life while filming snow-
boarding in Austria. Robi
lived a full life travelling
around the world enjoying
the roller coaster lifestyle
that only skateboarding
and snowboarding could
provide. He knew no
other way to live than to
barge right through and
make the best of every situa-
tion he came across.
BACKSIDE DISASTER AT
THE PRIME EVIL POOL
Born July 7, 1967, Chris did all the normal stuff boys do, then discovered
skateboarding in his early teens. He learned his craft at Pipeline, rose
through the ranks of the ASPO scene, became a park team rider, then went
pro-living the dream of all skaters everywhere. His barge-at-will style made
him a natural candidate for the modern skatepark-raised skater. He skated
fast, strong and powerful-a product of his Pipeline environment upbring-
ing-and took his trick adaptability into the modern era of ramp riding. His
building of his backyard ramp actually saved the Badlands from skater
extinction when the park closed. How he talked his mom and dad into it, I'll
never know, but somehow, someway, his will prevailed, and we were
allowed to pursue all of our dreams a little longer. I can still hear him now:
"But mom, we need somewhere to practice!"
What I admired in Chris' skating was his determination and will to learn and
get better, his trick selection, and just the fact that he was big and burly for a
skater. He and Ben Schroeder were the only two people I ever saw make the
Chino ramp sway. His liptricks proved that he had what it takes to make the
grade, and he always did decent in contests by pulling off something so crazy, it
just blew you away.
Just as fast as vert skating rose again for the second time, it disappeared
over night when the focus shifted back into the streets. Along with the decline
went most of the riders of that era, and Chris became just another vert pro out
of work. So, in order to help pay the bills, Robi took up what seemed to be the
most logical step in skateboarding-videotaping and photography.
This endeavor eventually brought Robi into the realm of the snowboard
world-something which all the Badland boys participated in at varying
degrees of success over the years. With Mt Baldy only a half hour away, Robi
cut his teeth on that mountain-hiking, filming, snowboarding-while at the same
time finding time to skate when and wherever he could.
Chris lived a fairly simple life. He didn't need much to get along, just a little
food on the table, a roof over his head, a bed to sleep in, and maybe a CD
player to play his favorite music. He was really just a kid at heart, and it was this
quality that could talk you into anything. He was kind to others (letting count-
less people crash on the living room couch, just ask his girl Berna) and always
took the time to play with kids. My son Jesse liked Chris so much, he referred to
him as Christopher Robin, one of Jesse's favorite Pooh characters. I was always
stoked when Robi would go out of his way to bring Jesse a motorcross video or
his latest snowboarding/skateboarding adventure hot off the press. And he
believed in my graphics ability enough to request I design a few of his video
covers when no one else would give me a chance. I gladly accepted the offer,
but the typical Robi line was always, "Deadline's in three days. So, can you do
it?" Of course we always pulled it off.
Chris made about eight videos altogether. Although the first couple were
kind of raw, it was the underground quality that brought attention to his
filming skills and the fact that he was giving exposure to people who were
up and coming snowboard dominators. He started travelling all over the states
and the world again in search of perfect snow to capture that special moment
only snowboarding provides. He also did a lot of the ground work himself by
booking flights, getting sponsors, and driving those damn videos all over
Southern California to get his product to the shops. He really worked his ass
off to make it all happen. It was a slow process, but it was paying off.
I will always miss Chris coming through the front door, going right for the
fridge for a bite to eat, then using the phone to call Colorado or something.
then barging into the garage for a pair of wheels or taking my last bit of grip-
tape. Sure, we fought and bickered like brothers sometimes, but that's what
made him special. Plus his ability to stay true to his craft, his friends, and his
girl. For those who knew Robi, he will remain in our hearts forever. -Steve Alba
138 THRASHER